GAZA PRIMER

HISTORY

The name Hamas is an acronym of the Arabic words for Islamic Resistance Movement. Hamas was created by the late Sheikh Ahmed Yassim in 1987, at the beginning of the first Palestinian uprising (intifada) against Israeli rule. It was an offshoot of the Palestinian branch of the Egypt-based religious and political Muslim Brotherhood and an alternative to Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization. Its goal is an Islamic fundamentalist Palestinian state.

FUNDING

The U.S. State Department says Hamas “receives some funding from Iran, but primarily relies on donations from Palestinians around the world and private benefactors in Saudi Arabia and or other Arab states.” The Council on Foreign Relations estimates Hamas has an annual budget of $70 million.

SOCIAL SERVICES

It has wings devoted to military action, religion (Sunni Islam), politics and security (police). But much of its popularity is based on the extensive social services it provides in the Palestinian territories (now primarily just in Gaza), where it has built and run schools, hospitals, orphanages, mosques and sports leagues.

VIOLENCE

Its military wing has claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks and suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and troops, and it is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, the European Union, Canada and Japan. It is banned in Jordan.

POLITICS

Its political party steadily built support through local elections in the West Bank and Gaza. In January 2006, it claimed a stunning victory over the Western-backed, more moderate Fatah party in Palestinian parliamentary elections —- giving it control of the Palestinian government and a much stronger hand to oppose peace talks with Israel.

The so-called Middle East Quartet —- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations —- immediately threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinian government unless Hamas recognized Israel’s right to exist and renounced violence —- which Hamas refused to do. The aid was cut and simultaneously Israel began withholding tax and other revenues that it collects for the Palestinians.

CIVIL WAR

As the situation worsened, tensions between Fatah and Hamas escalated. The power struggle came to a head in June 2007, when Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led government and declared a state of emergency.

In a brief civil war, Hamas seized control of Gaza, splitting the Palestinian territories in two and leaving Abbas’ forces in control only in the West Bank.

BLOCKADE

After the civil war, Israel blockaded Gaza, largely keeping all but essential goods from entering the coastal territory and worsening the Palestinians’ already grim situation.

FAILED TRUCE

In June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a six-month truce, but that failed to stop periodic rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza. Eight days after the truce ended, amid escalating rocket attacks, the Israeli air force on Saturday opened an attack on Hamas security facilities, weapons-making and storage facilities, the homes of militant field operatives and government buildings that are the symbols of Hamas’ power.

—- Associated Press, New York Times, CNN, globalsecurity.org

ISRAEL

> Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

> Defense Minister Ehud Barak

> Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni

PALESTINIANS

> West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

> Syria-based Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal

> Gaza-based Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh

UNITED STATES

> Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice

> Former President and Mideast peace advocate Jimmy Carter

 CHARLES W. JONES / Staff 
GAZA STRIP PROFILE 
Gaza has been ruled by the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas since 2007. It is one of the world's most densely populated areas. 
Map locates the following: 
Gaza Strip, Gaza City
> Barrier wall separates Gaza from Israel 
> Palestinian towns, villages 
> U.N. refugee camp, registered refugees 
Rafah Camp: 97,412 
Khan Younis Camp: 61,539 
Deir el-Balah: 20,215 
Nuseirat: 58,727 
Beach: 80,567 
Jabalia: 106,846 
Area: 139 sq. mi.; about twice the size of Washington, D.C. 
Population: 1.5 million; most are refugees, many live in camps 
Refugees: Palestinians expelled in 1948 from land that became Israel, and their descendants 
Religion: 99.3% Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 
Median age: 17.2 years 
Unemployment rate: 35% (2006) 
GDP per person: $1,000 
Inset map locates Gaza Strip in relation to Israel, West Bank and surrounding countries. 
—-
Israeli-Palestinian chronology 
After WWI: Region divided into mandates controlled by U.K. and France 
After WWII: Thousands of Jews arrived from European refugee camps 
1948: U.N. proposed separate Jewish, Palestinian states; Britain objected and withdrew. Jews proclaimed state of Israel; fighting between Jews and Palestinians caused two-thirds of Palestinian population to flee 
June 1967: Israel captures the Egyptian controlled Gaza Strip during the Six Day war. 
December 1987: A clash at a refugee camp sets off an uprising. The militant Islamic group Hamas is formed. 
1993: The uprising ends with the deaths of more than 2,100 people. 
September 2005: Israel withdraws but retains control of Gaza's airspace, coastal waters and borders. 
June 2007: Hamas violently seizes control of Gaza after routing forces loyal to rival Fatah faction. 
June 2008: A truce is reached on rocket fire into Israel, and Israeli offensives in Gaza. 
November 2008: Palestinians resume rocket and mortar fire into Israel after Israeli incursion. 
Dec. 19, 2008: Hamas formally declares the truce over; rocket fire on Israel intensifies. 
Dec. 27, 2008: Israel launches an air offensive, killing more than 200 Palestinians on the first day. 

Sources: UNRWA, CIA World Factbook, McClatchy/Tribune, Associated Press